James wilson



(No Model.)

J. WILSON.

I PACKING CONDENSER TUBES; Nae-95. 136. Patented ar; 11, 1884.

41' A I v N. PCTERS. muihagnphnr. Washington. D. C.

NITED STATES ATENT FFI PACKlNG'CONDENSER-TUBES.

SBECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,136, dated March11, 1884.

' Application filed October 15, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES Wrnson, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Packing Condenser- Tubcs, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my iuventionis to form a tight joint between the casingand the ends of the tubes of a suriace-condenser, and this object Iattain in the manner hereinafter set forth,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aView of part of the casing of forms of the invention, and Fig. 4 a viewillustrating the ordinary method of packing the tubes.

A represents part of one of the inner end casings of asurface-condenser,and B the end portion of one of many tubes appertaining to thecondenser, the tube fitting snugly to an opening in the casing, and theouter portion of this opening being threaded for the reception of afollower, D, which has opposite notches for receiving a screw-driver orother tool by which it may be readily tightened. Usually the followersurrounds the end of the tube and compresses apacking-ring, :0, againsta shoulder in the casing A, as shown in Fig. 4, the lateral expansion ofthis ring against the tube being relied upon to form a tight j oi nt.

This method of packing the tube is obj ectionable, as excessive pressuremust be imparted to the packing-ring in order to cause sufficientlateral expansion of the same to insure a tight joint.

In carrying out my invention I force the packing-ring ac directlyagainst the end of the tube, the preferable form of my invention beingthat shown in Fig. 1, in which the end of the tube has a Vshaped beveland the inner end of the follower a V-shaped recess, the

ring a being confined between the two, as the follower is screwed intothe casing, and atight joint thus formed with much less pressure thanwhen the usual method of packing is adopted. In fact, the ring 00 maybepermitted to retain sufficient elasticity to compensate forthe slighttube independently of the casing. As shown in Fig. .1, the casing hasashoulder, a, and the "end of the follower outside the recess seatsagainst said shoulder, and thus aids in insuring a tight joint.

The packing-ring so may be interposed between the end of the followerand the shoulder a, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, if desired, and the tubemay have a square instead of a beveled end, as shown in Fig. 2, or maybe beveled only on the inside, as shown in Fig. 3, for the reception ofa tongue, I), on the follower, it being advisable, however, in allcases, to provide the tube with this internal bevel and to adapt thefollower thereto for the purpose of protecting and laterally retainingthe packing-ring.

I am aware that the tubes of heating apparatus and steam-generators havebeen clamped between opposite casings or heads, packing being interposedbetween the ends of the tubes and seats on said casings; but in suchcases all of the tubes must be of the same length to insure tightjoints, whereas when the packing is confined between the end of the tubeand an adjustable follower, as in my condenser, variation in the lengthof the tubes is immaterial.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the casing A, tube B, andadjustable followerD of a surface-condenser with a packing-ring, x,confined directly between the outer end of the tube and the inner end ofthe follower, as set forth.

2. The combination of the casing A, having a shoulder, a, the tube 13,the adjustable follower D, and the packing-ring x, interposed betweenthe end of the tube and the follower, as set forth.

3. The combination of the casing A, the tube B, having a beveled end,the adjustable ingring as, interposed between the follower and the endof the tube, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name tothis specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES WILSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. PARKER,

HARRY Snrrrr.

longitudinal expansion and contraction of thefollower 1),. having atongue, 7), and the pack.

